Tom Wood: I'd love to captain England

Interview: Tom Wood thrived on the leadership in Argentina and believes
he could retain it for autumn.

Filmed by Julian Simmonds

7:11AM BST 19 Sep 2013

Northampton Saints' Tom Wood has the natural instincts of a captain: well prepared, unflinching, and to the point. He has a presence, a flinty persona, an honesty that brooks no compromise.

And that means that he takes nothing for granted as regards the England captaincy for the autumn series of Tests that begins against Australia at Twickenham on Nov 2. Chris Robshaw was rested for the summer tour. Wood stepped in and did well. The best man will get the nod.

“I am ambitious and of course I would love to captain England again,” said Wood on Wednesday following morning training at Franklin’s Gardens. Stuart told me at the end of the tour that I had credit in the bank in terms of captaincy as well as a player. But form and fitness will shape everything.”

“I am not naive enough to believe that it would be the same as it was in Argentina. The media circus was not a factor out there as the Lions were away in Australia. I would be under far more scrutiny, as a player as well as the front-man for the team.

“You are the face of English rugby. Your body language has to be spot on, you have to field tough questions and cope with all the stuff that goes with the job. As long as you are straight with yourself and your team-mates, I don’t see a problem with that. Captaincy is a way of life, you have to set an example in everything you do. That is good leadership.”

England had a three-day training camp last month. There is a gathering sense that the time has come for teams as well as players, for Wood and Northampton as much as for the flanker and his country.

“Yes, I would agree, there is a buzz, at the club as well as with England,” said Wood. “Everything is mapped out with England, every single day between now and the start of the World Cup on Sept 18, 2015. They showed us a schedule chart in camp. Every day outlined. That got the juices flowing.

“The management know exactly what they are doing. As a player, it made you aware of how quickly you have got to make your mark if you want to be part of it. I am ambitious, I want to play well and I want to be part of that World Cup.”